Hi everyone,
I hope you all had a great week despite the rain! Team Velis and I were eager to jump into the final week of July!
On Tuesday, we hosted office hours at the Russell Council on Aging. During our visit, Bridget met with community leaders and constituents to discuss funding included in the State’s Fair Share supplemental budget, specifically support for student transportation in the rural regional school district. We also heard exciting news about Russell beginning preparations for a new playground project, and I can’t wait to visit the playground once it is complete to play some catch with my little man, Carson!
Wednesday was a busy day throughout the district. We started in Southampton with office hours, where we joined the Veterans Coffee Hour and Knitting Club in conversations about local life. From there, Team Velis traveled to Holyoke for the kickoff of Holyoke’s Fiestas Patronales, celebrating its 5th anniversary and welcoming the mayor of Naranjito, Puerto Rico, Orlando Ortiz Chevres, along with several community leaders. We hope the rest of the weekend is filled with great music, food, and celebration!
On Thursday morning, Team Velis met with the Western Mass Network to End Homelessness. The taskforce brought together service providers and local officials to discuss housing policies and priorities aimed at supporting residents across the region. Later in the day, our office attended an announcement in Springfield unveiling a major capital investment in the MassMutual Center and funding that will help upgrade the facility, strengthen the regional economy, and enhance the home of the Springfield Thunderbirds. I am hopeful that these measures will help reinforce the MassMutual Center’s role as a key driver of tourism, entertainment, and economic activity in Western Massachusetts. We closed Thursday by celebrating Big Y’s 90th anniversary in Chicopee alongside Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and other community partners, recognizing the company’s longstanding commitment to Western Massachusetts.
Throughout the week, Beacon Hill has been lively as the legislature wraps up formal sessions. With this deadline in mind, my team and I were focused on pushing a number of legislative priorities over the finish-line, and the Senate took up several compromise conference committee reports, including final legislation related to home care workers and much more. Team Velis and I are continuously grateful for the opportunity to serve and our community throughout this legislative period.
This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in both Russell and Southampton. Next week, we will hold office hours at the Agawam Council on Aging on Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. If you’re unable to attend, you can always reach us by email at john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone at (413) 572‑3920, or online at senatorjohnvelis.com.
Best,
John Velis